Chilling out in Chiltern
• 20 March, 2022 – Chiltern, Victoria
33rd Annual Australian Rudge Enthusiasts Rally
We were based at the Lake Anderson Caravan Park, a scenic spot with most of us staying in cabins around the lake. The usual, friendly crowd were there, minus a few who were on the Classic Tour of Tassie. The runs were organised by a Victorian member Russell Court, ably assisted by two travelling marshals and a back-up driver.
The Rudges were displayed first thing Saturday morning for judging, before heading off to Rutherglen for morning tea at the ‘Caffeine ‘n’ machine’ Café and Motorcycle Museum. Lunch was followed by a ride to Wangaratta to the home of Ken and Brenda Lucas.
Ken has a fantastic collection of racing bikes, including a 500cc Mk8 Veolcette KTT, rows of other fascinating motorcycles and interesting projects, even a corgi! Brenda uncovered all the bikes and showed us around the two sheds of machines and the workshop. We returned to the caravan park where we cleaned-up and met at the only pub in town for dinner and presentations.
Presentations were made: ‘Best Vintage’ Rudge went to Peter Scott on his 1924 500cc; ‘Best PostVintage’ went to Warren Young with his 1937 Special. The best pre-1930 machine, ‘The Jim
Wallace Memorial cup’ was awarded to Peter Scott for the 1924 500cc and the best Rudge overall, The ‘Rob Hart Memorial’ (Big R) was presented to Charles Blades and his 1937 TT Rep.
On Sunday morning, after a very small and brief ‘swap meet’ we left the park for a short ride to a private museum just outside Chiltern. The amount of ‘stuff’ in their private museum was awesome. Stacked in several sheds, a garage and carports, even spread about the garden, were old petrol pumps, signs and workshop equipment, old and relatively modern. Old motorcycles, cars and trucks and farm machinery everywhere.
Onwards, then, to the historic town of Beechworth for a wander and lunch. Beechworth is well worth a visit for the history and old-world charm. All in all, there was little call for trips on the back-up trailer all weekend. It was then an enjoyable and scenic trip back to Chiltern, where most riders loaded up and headed for home.
Super weather – a great change for those of us from Sydney and surrounds, nice bikes, good roads and venues and a bunch of lovely people. It was, once again, a top rally and we can’t wait to do it all again next year – in the Southern Highlands of NSW. ■